Stepper exerciser

ABSTRACT

A stepper exerciser comprises a swinging base, a moveable base and a foot-stepping connecting rod, between the matching cases on the swinging base; there is a moveable base, to which a foot-stepping connecting rod is connected. A foot-stepping connecting rod mechanism, comprising an axle between the two side plates of the moveable base, a connecting rod extending out of the axle, a supporting base on each end of the connecting rod, a paddle on each supporting base, and the swinging base to allow simultaneous motion, and between the cases of the swinging base there is a recovery element, which can set the paddle in a non-swinging state when no action is exerted on the paddle and the swinging base returns to its non-swinging state; therefore, a lever mechanism is formed during the up-and-down of the paddles on the moveable base with the curved cases of the swinging base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an invention of sports equipment.Especially, it means a multi-functional stepper exerciser involvingup-and-down stepping action, shifting stepping action and motion as in abalancer.

2. Description of the Related Art

The conventional balanced stepper comprises a base fixed to the steppingplatform, a horizontal rod, and a front supporting beam and a rearsupporting beam that both touch the ground. Further, the frontsupporting beam has smaller radius than the rear supporting beam. Bothsupporting beams contact the ground at respective points, which allowparallel action for both rods simultaneously.

In this equipment the base and stepping paddles are connected. Duringoperation, balance is achieved by different radius of the two supportingbeams. Balancing action and swinging action are involved in the use ofthe equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalstepper exerciser, mainly composed of a swinging base, a moveable baseand a foot-stepping connecting rod. Between the matching cases on theswinging base, there is a moveable base, to which a foot-steppingconnecting rod is connected. Through a bolt, the foot-steppingconnecting rod moves along with the cases of the swinging base. Such astepper exerciser not only achieves the basic balance training functionbut also involves up-and-down stepping action and shifting action.Compared to traditional stepper exerciser, the invention finds moredesired practical use and functionality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the three-dimensional illustration for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of disassembled components for the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another mode of the connecting rod in thestepper exerciser for the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the relationship between a pedal andbearing for the present invention.

FIG. 5 is the status of the stepper exerciser when no action is exertedon it.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another type of assembly configuration forthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a figure for an example for the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another figure for an example for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 for the stepper exerciser in thepresent invention, which mainly includes a swinging base 1, a moveablebase 2 and a foot-stepping connecting mechanism 3.

The swinging base 1 has two matching cases 11, which appear in curvedshape. The bottom sticks out as a flange 111 to add contact area withthe ground. The top has several pairs of locking holes 112 that allowthe bolt 113 to penetrate through and be capped by a nut 114, so the twocases 11 are combined to form a swinging base. Inside of the case 11,there is a sticking pillar 115.

The moveable base 2 is in convex shape made through two matching sideplates 21 with rollers 22 on both sides. On top of each of the two sideplates 11, there is an axle hole 211, which accommodates the bolt 113that is through the two cases 11 of the swinging base 1. Thus, themoveable base 2 is fixed between the two cases 11.

The foot-stepping connecting rod 3 uses an axle 31 between the two sideplates 21 of the moveable base 2. On the axle 31, a connecting rod canbe put to extend radially. The connecting rod can be like the unitcomposed of two rods 32 on the axle 31 as shown in FIG. 2, or the unitcomposed of a single rod 32 on the axle 31. Hence, when the connectingrod 32 is not engaged in a motion, it remains on the moveable base 2 ina horizontal state. At each end of the connecting rod 32, there is asupporting base 33, which remains on top of the rollers 22 of themoveable base 2.

An axle hole 331 is also put on the above supporting base 33. The hole331 allows penetration of the bolt 113 on the side of the two cases 11of the moveable base 1. So the connecting rod 32 moves along with theswinging base 1. On the supporting base 33, there is a vertical axlehole 332 for accommodating a paddle 34. On the top edge of the axle hole332, there is also an extension plate 333 that has a locking hole 334.

The paddle 34 is fixed to the supporting base 33 through an axle 341inserted into an axle hole 332 and a stopper column 342 locked into thelocking hole 334 on the extension plate 333 at the bottom edge of thepaddle 34. The axle 341 of the paddle 34 has a connection hole 343,which allows accommodating a bolt 35 running through the bottom of theaxle hole 332 of the supporting base 33. Between the nut 35 and the axlehole 332, there is a compress spring 36 as a cushion device, so the axle341 of the paddle 34 inserted in the axle hole 332 can be pulled up (asshown in FIG. 4). It allows the stopper column 342 of the paddle 34 todetach from the locking hole 334 and the paddle 34 rotate freely whileremaining in the supporting base 33 without jumping off. It is thesimplest operational design of adjustable paddle 34 with respect tolocking positioning or rotation.

Further, between the cases 11 of the swinging base 1 and thecorresponding moveable base 2, there is a recovery element, which is thespring element 4 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. One end of the elasticelement 4 is locked to the axle 31, while the other end is fixed to thepillar 115 of the swinging base 1. Alternatively, the recovery elementcan be the hydraulic cylinder 5 as shown in FIG. 6. One end of thehydraulic cylinder 5 is on the pillar 115 of the swinging base 1 whilethe other end is fixed to the side plate 21 of the moveable base 2.Therefore, when no action is exerted on the paddle 34 on thefoot-stepping connecting rod mechanism 3, the swinging base 1 is in anon-swinging state as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 when it is subject tothe pulling action of the recovery element.

Thus, when the exerciser in the present invention is in use forbalancing and stepping exercise, the user has both feet on the paddles34 of the connecting rod mechanism 3. Due to the simultaneous motion ofthe supporting base 33 and the swinging base 1, both feet on the paddles34 can self-adjust to a parallel state and use body weight to maintainbalance through the swinging of the curved cases 11 of the swinging base1 in simulated action for balance training or up-and-down foot-stepping.As shown in FIG. 7, when the left paddle 34 is pressed down, the roller22 of the moveable base 2 slightly shifts to the left, which results ina lever mechanism with the swinging base 1 to swing back and forth andmakes the other paddle 34 move upward. As shown in FIG. 8, when theright paddle 34 is pressed down, the roller 22 of the moveable base 2slightly shifts to the right, which results in a lever mechanism withthe swinging base 1 to swing back and forth and makes the other paddle34 move upward. Thus, when a user continuously steps on the paddles 34,the exerciser turns out as an up-and-down stepper or a shifting stepper.

Further, the present invention also provides a twist action as shown inFIG. 4, which has the stopper column 342 of the paddle 34 detach fromthe locking hole 334, so the paddle 34 can rotate freely without jumpingoff while remaining in the supporting base 33. When a user is steppingon the paddle 34, the free rotation of the paddle 34 is used to achievetwist action on the user's body.

In general, the stepper exerciser in the present invention not onlyachieves the basic balance training but also involves up-and-downstepping action and shifting action. Compared to traditional stepperexerciser, it has more desired practical use and functionality and posesa great commercial value.

1. A stepper exerciser, mainly composed of: a swinging base, includingtwo matching cases in curved shape with bottom sticking out as a flangeand several locking holes on top, which allow a blot to pass through andbe capped with a nut to combine the two cases into a swinging base; amoveable base, including two side plates with rollers, with an axle holeon each side plate for the bolt to pass through and combine the twocases of the swinging base, allowing the moveable base positionedbetween the two cases of the swinging base; a foot-stepping connectingrod mechanism, comprising an axle between the two side plates of themoveable base, a connecting rod extending out of the axle, a supportingbase on each end of the connecting rod, a paddle on each supportingbase, with bolts to connect the supporting base and the swinging base toallow simultaneous motion; through this, a lever mechanism is formedduring the up-and-down motion of the paddles on the moveable base withthe curved cases of the swinging base, so the user can use body weighton the paddle to conduct balance training, up-and-down stepping exerciseand shifting action exercise.
 2. The stepper exerciser as claimed inclaim 1, the two rods on the axle can form the connecting rod.
 3. Thestepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, one rod on the axle can formthe connecting rod.
 4. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, anaxle hole on the supporting base of the connecting rod mechanism allowsthe bolt of the cases of the swinging base to pass through and resultsin simultaneous motion between the connecting rod and the swinging base.5. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, there is a verticalthrough hole on the supporting base of the connecting rod mechanism toallow the placement of a paddle inside.
 6. The stepper exerciser asclaimed in claim 1, there is an extension plate on the top edge of thesupporting base of the connection rod mechanism and the extension platehas a locking hole.
 7. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, thepaddle is situated in the connecting rod mechanism through an axleinserted into a hole.
 8. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, onthe bottom edge of the paddle corresponding to the locking hole on theextension plate there is a stopper column, which prevents paddles fromrotating.
 9. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, the axle ofthe paddle of the connecting rod mechanism has a locking hole for a boltto pass from the axle hole bottom for connection and there is a springbetween the nut and the axle hole for cushion purpose. Thus, when theaxle of the paddle is in the axle hole, it still can be pulled up andquickly engage into a locking action. So the paddle can rotate freelywithout jumping off. The mechanism has a simple design of paddlepositioning and rotation adjustment.
 10. The stepper exerciser asclaimed in claim 1, between the cases of the swinging base there is arecovery element, which can be an elastic element, hydraulic cylinder .. . etc., retractable element to set the paddle in a non-swinging statewhen no action is exerted on the paddle and the swinging base returns toits non-swinging state.